Rotherham United 2 Crawley Town 2: Agard earns Evans’s praise and point in Millers’ defiant display

Rotherham dominated the opening quarter of the game, but Crawley broke away to take a 23rd-minute lead through Matt Tubbs, who scored just three times in 19 games earlier this season during a loan spell with Steve Evans’s side.

Andy Drury was put clear on the right and his low cross should have been dealt with by Miles Addison and Adam Collin, but the goalkeeper could only divert it straight to Tubbs, who scored into an empty net.

The goal temporarily deflated the Millers while lifting Crawley, who suddenly exuded confidence going forward.

But the Millers were level on 34 minutes after Alex Revell’s shot was turned away for a corner. Ben Pringle’s flag-kick was half-cleared and after Richard Smallwood had played the ball back to him, he moved inside the area and was fouled by Joe Walsh.

With regular penalty-taker Lee Frecklington missing Agard, after discussions with James Tavernier, assumed responsibility and slotted home the spot-kick.

Shortly after Rotherham had a let-off when Billy Clarke lamely shot straight into the arms of the grateful Collin, Crawley were back in front.

Clarke’s low ball into the area found Tubbs whose angled first-time pass invited Josh Simpson to score, and he obliged.

A last-ditch header by Kyle McFadzean stopped Agard heading the equaliser from Addison’s flick, but he then drew the Millers level in the sixth minute of time added on after Haris Vuckic’s header had been blocked. Collin then made three saves in rapid succession at the other end when Crawley should have scored.

Agard had missed the previous penalty he had taken, and Millers’ boss Evans commented: “He showed courage when he stepped up to take our penalty after recently missing one at Port Vale. But he practised all week in training and looked confident so I gave him the task. He certainly did not let me down.”

Evans added that in the second half “despite the players working as hard as they can they did not work with the usual intelligence these lads have.”

Rotherham United: Collin, Tavernier, Addison, Arnason, Skarz,Agard, Smallwood (O’Connor 72), Milsom, Pringle, Revell (Thomas 46), Hitchcock (Vuckic 53). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Brindley, Davis, Bradley.

Crawley Town: Paul Jones, Connolly, McFadzean, Walsh, Sadler, Adams, Simpson (Dicker 90), Drury, Michael Jones, Clarke, Tubbs (Alexander 89). Unused substitutes: Essam, Torres, Proctor, Malins, Maddison.

Referee: M Bull (Essex).

Man of the match: Kieran Agard.